Contributor I

Question

How do I play audio from my iMac through Sonos?

Forum|Forum|12 years ago
November 30, 2013
53 replies
74663 views

How do I play audio (e.g. soundtracks for movies and TV in iTunes) or stream internet content (e.g. netflx or iPlayer) from my iMac through my Sonos system? I've tried a phono lead out from the headphone socket on the Mac into a Sonos bridge "line in", but the sound was poor and very quiet. My music library is on my iMac, and that works fine.

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B

Bjorn L

Lyricist III

Hello Jonathan,

For now, Sonos is not able to play the system-sound of your computer wirelessly. We call that functionality Virtual Line In, and it is something we may be working
on in the future. You can voice your support by +1 this idea.

Apart from that, the only method to have the PC sound play through Sonos is to use the analog-cable with the Line-In of your PLAY:5/CONNECT/CONNECT:AMP.

In regards to the volume-level of the Line-In connection, I recommend that you check the Line-In settings within the Room Settings of your Sonos app. There you can select
the signal level of the Line-In source.

Regards,

Bjorn L.

U

User316186

Lyricist I

Hello Jonathan,

For now, Sonos is not able to play the system-sound of your computer wirelessly. We call that functionality Virtual Line In, and it is something we may be working
on in the future. You can voice your support by +1 this idea.

Apart from that, the only method to have the PC sound play through Sonos is to use the analog-cable with the Line-In of your PLAY:5/CONNECT/CONNECT:AMP.

In regards to the volume-level of the Line-In connection, I recommend that you check the Line-In settings within the Room Settings of your Sonos app. There you can select
the signal level of the Line-In source.

Regards,

Bjorn L.

I agree with others who have posted… disappointing and frustrating. I just invested in a multi room Sonos system, none of them are Play 5's, and now just finding out I can't run laptop, iMac or TV sound through any of the Sonos speakers I just purchased. Even a line-in from Play 1 or 3 would have been logical and appreciated.

G

Gianni_1

Lyricist I

Hello Jonathan,

For now, Sonos is not able to play the system-sound of your computer wirelessly. We call that functionality Virtual Line In, and it is something we may be working
on in the future. You can voice your support by +1 this idea.

Apart from that, the only method to have the PC sound play through Sonos is to use the analog-cable with the Line-In of your PLAY:5/CONNECT/CONNECT:AMP.

In regards to the volume-level of the Line-In connection, I recommend that you check the Line-In settings within the Room Settings of your Sonos app. There you can select
the signal level of the Line-In source.

Regards,

Bjorn L.

You can get an Apple Airport Express for $99. This is used to share out Line Out's, extend WiIfi signals, and share Printers all wirelessly. Plug that Line out into your Line-In of your Play:5/Connect/Connect-AMP. Then you can use AirpLay via iTunes directly to stream your music. If you want to stream system sound from your iMac then use in addition an app called Airfoil which transmits ANY sound & video from your iMac using Airplay technology directly to your peripherals connected to your Airport Express.

J

Jonathan StanleyAuthor

Contributor I

Hi Vincent.

I DID work this out! Trouble is, it was so long ago I'm now not sure how I did it! I am sure that it involved conversations with Sonos support.

I can tell you that it's definitely using a lineout from the headphone socket to a Sonos bridge! Here is the other thing I'd try right away – go to Sonos > Manage > Service Settings. Under "Room Settings" set "Line-Out Level to variable".

if that doesn't work, let me know and I'll see what else I can come up with.

M

mredamon

Lyricist I

SONOAIR. YOU ARE WELCOME

C

chokito39

Lyricist I

Epic fail if I can't use my speakers for wireless sound through my iMac. I watch movies on my iMac in the lounge room, yet I have to use the iMac speakers? errrrrr! I should not have to have this signal go back to my soundbar via a hardline to do this! NOT VERY INNOVATIVE AT ALL are we Sonos?

A

apmgold

Lyricist I

How poor is this.
People have their music library on CD or on their PC/Mac and you can't play it through your Sonos system, how poor is that.
I have just bought the first part of a Sonos system that will now be returned because I have my music library, >1,000 CD's on my iMac.
Epic fail !!!!!

jgatie

How poor is this.
People have their music library on CD or on their PC/Mac and you can't play it through your Sonos system, how poor is that.
I have just bought the first part of a Sonos system that will now be returned because I have my music library, >1,000 CD's on my iMac.
Epic fail !!!!!

It's not that poor at all, considering you most certainly CAN play your music library from your PC/Mac. All you have to do is point Sonos to the share that houses your music on the PC/Mac. I don't know how you got the idea it wasn't possible, but you are 100% incorrect.

What you cannot do is play the system sound from your PC/Mac (the beeps, boops, video sound, etc) directly to your Sonos speakers. For that you need a Sonos device with a Line-in connection and a cable.

B

bcct

Lyricist I

hi - im also at a loss to play my music library from my mac - either it cannot connect or the mac format not working - can't grab the error messages fast enough. what steps does one take to point sonos to the share that houses my music? my whole library is sitting on my hard drive.

How poor is this.
People have their music library on CD or on their PC/Mac and you can't play it through your Sonos system, how poor is that.
I have just bought the first part of a Sonos system that will now be returned because I have my music library, >1,000 CD's on my iMac.
Epic fail !!!!!

It's not that poor at all, considering you most certainly CAN play your music library from your PC/Mac. All you have to do is point Sonos to the share that houses your music on the PC/Mac. I don't know how you got the idea it wasn't possible, but you are 100% incorrect.

What you cannot do is play the system sound from your PC/Mac (the beeps, boops, video sound, etc) directly to your Sonos speakers. For that you need a Sonos device with a Line-in connection and a cable.

B

bcct

Lyricist I

ok posted too soon - followed other post on how to set up path but now stuck on my mac with the smb password - no idea what that is and cannot reset it. any ideas there? also off to mac help now. should be easier than this.

hi - im also at a loss to play my music library from my mac - either it cannot connect or the mac format not working - can't grab the error messages fast enough. what steps does one take to point sonos to the share that houses my music? my whole library is sitting on my hard drive.

How poor is this.
People have their music library on CD or on their PC/Mac and you can't play it through your Sonos system, how poor is that.
I have just bought the first part of a Sonos system that will now be returned because I have my music library, >1,000 CD's on my iMac.
Epic fail !!!!!

It's not that poor at all, considering you most certainly CAN play your music library from your PC/Mac. All you have to do is point Sonos to the share that houses your music on the PC/Mac. I don't know how you got the idea it wasn't possible, but you are 100% incorrect.

What you cannot do is play the system sound from your PC/Mac (the beeps, boops, video sound, etc) directly to your Sonos speakers. For that you need a Sonos device with a Line-in connection and a cable.

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